Ron Clarke
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| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Athletics | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 1964 Tokyo | 10,000 metres | |
Ronald ("Ron") William Clarke (born February 21, 1937 in Victoria) was an Australian athlete, and one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s. He attended Melbourne High School.
He is best remembered for setting seventeen world records, but also for never winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. He did win the bronze medal in the 10,000 m at the 1964 Summer Olympics, however. At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Clarke collapsed and nearly died from altitude sickness sustained during the grueling 10,000 m race final. He suffered permanent heart damage from this event, as he was not conditioned to running in high altitudes as were some competitors.
In 1956, when Clarke was still a promising youngster, he was chosen to light the Olympic Flame in the stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.
On March 15, 2006, Ron Clarke was one of the final four runners who carried the Queen's Baton around the MCG stadium during the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
He currently serves as Mayor of the Gold Coast, Queensland, a position to which he was elected at the 2004 local government elections in which he defeated the incumbent Gary Baildon. Clarke is the brother of former VFL star Jack Clarke.
| Preceded by Hans Wikne Stockholm 1956 |
Final Olympic Torchbearer Ron Clarke Melbourne 1956 |
Succeeded by Ken Henry Squaw Valley 1960 |
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